Brian Luttrell, Life Member

My interest in baseball started at age 17 when, in 1963, my cricket club decided to enter a baseball team to keep their arms warm during the winter (baseball was then a winter game in Australia). Under the guidance of Les Clark, an older player with experience in the Lane Cove Baseball Club, and the loan of used equipment from that club, the St Nicholas Baseball Club was born – the first club and team in the Penrith Nepean area. I played 1963-1965 with St Nicks (1965 B Reserve Premiers 1964 in the Cumberland League).

Quite some years later, 1986, and living in Ku-ring-gai, I realised that my 8 year old son Matthew had a decent throwing arm and had to play baseball.  Stealers was the local club and I was immediately impressed with the organization and the welcoming and knowledgeable enthusiasm of the triumvirate of Col Clark (no relation to Les), Peter Appleby and Daryl Hallam.

With three sons, ( Andrew, Matthew and James) I had them all playing teeball and then baseball and I resumed playing myself, as well as coaching and also umpiring. My eldest son Andrew also qualified as an umpire .

From 1966 to 1969 I played in the Sydney Major League completion (as it then was), playing Second Grade for the University of NSW Baseball Club.

At Stealers I served as Secretary (1986 – 1991) and as President (1992 – 1994), as well as coaching many junior and senior teams.

As president, I contributed to the provision of large and permanent back nets for both the Front and Back baseball fields at Golden Jubilee Park. This was done with assistance from North Shore Baseball Club and with a substantial Sports Grant from the NSW Government, as well as through working bees of enthusiastic Stealers members and affiliates.  The result was that the fields were raised to an acceptable standard for AA and AAA Competitions.

A favourite memory was coaching an unfavoured  Teeball team (Under 10 Bears) to premiership of that age division in a highly competitive season of the Stealers League in 1987.

Alas, I am no longer playing baseball. I hung up my glove at age 60, but as a proud recipient of the honour of Life Membership, I will remain an enthusiastic  supporter of Ku-ring-gai Stealers.